From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 22: Former Team India Cricket Wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani has been appointed as the Chairman of a high level selection committee for choosing sportspersons for the State’s highest Ekalavya and other Life Achievement awards.
So far, the State’s Sports Minister used to head the panel.
Syed Kirmani
In a major departure and also recognise the contributions of Kirmani to Indian Cricket and also to the game in the State, the State Government has to bring in transparency and avoid political influence in the selection in the selection of sportspersons for awards from this year.
Karnataka’s youthful Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Pramod Madwaraj has quit the post of the chairman of the selection panel to make way for the appointment of the cricketer Kirmani.
Pramod Madwaraj
The other members of the panel are: Arjuna awardee Suma Shirur (shooting), A B Subbaiah, Elvira Britto (hockey) and Dhyan Chand awardee Uday Prabhu.
For scrutinising applications for the awards, a screening committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Director, Youth Empowerment and Sports.
The other members of the Screening Committee are: S D Eshan, MalathiHolla, and Elvira Britto, all former sportspersons.
Eleven sportspersons from Karnataka, who participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics Games would be felicitated by giving cash prize of Rs 2 lakh each,Madwaraj said.
Lokanath Bolar to head Kreeda Ratna Panel
Loknath Bolar of Mangaluru has been appointed chairman of a committee for selection of sportspersons for the Karnataka Kreeda Ratna award.
The other members of the panel are: Shobha Narayan (Kho-Kho), B C Ramesh (Kabaddi) and GunapalaKadamba (Kambala).
A total of 90, 21, and 54 applications have been received for Karnataka Ekalavya, Life Achievement and Karnataka Kreeda Ratna awards respectively.
New Sports Policy by October
In the wake of India’s poor performance in Rio Olympics, the minister said the department would come out with a new sports policy by October.
The new Sports Policy would suggest measures to provide incentives and other encouragement for sportspersons.
Madhwaraj said the new policy would be drafted after consultations with all stakeholders.
He said Sports Policy of other States too would be studied.